Hey, I was curious if there's a certain age limit on when military dependents lose their college benefits. Like, is it after a certain age that I won't be eligible anymore? My dad’s in the Navy and we're trying to figure this all out. Grateful for any info about this.
Hello! Understanding the educational benefits available for military dependents is important. It largely depends on the type of benefit you're referring to. If you're asking about the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Department of Veterans Affairs allows eligible service members to transfer unused benefits to their dependents. Here's how it works:
The service member can transfer all 36 months or the remaining balance of their benefits to one dependent or divided among multiple dependents (including a spouse). In terms of age, generally, dependents can utilize these benefits until age 26. However, if the benefits were transferred when the dependent was 18 or older, they can use them up to age 32.
Additionally, there's the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) Program, which provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents (of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition) aged 18 to 26.
These are broad overviews and the specifics can get quite complex, so it's recommended to reach out directly to the Department of Veterans Affairs or a Veterans Service Organization to understand the ins and outs of these benefits and how they relate to your specific situation. Good luck with your planning!
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